NGO wants sanitary products to be free of charge

A non-governmental organisation called ‘Acts of kindness’ says while it welcomes the recommendation by an independent panel that sanitary products be exempt from Value Added Tax, it would have been a better recommendation to make them available free of charge.

This as the public has been given until by 31 August 2018 to submit their comments on the recommendation list of 19 new items that will be exempt from VAT.

Acts of Kindness founder, Funi Mudau started the initiative to collect and donate menstrual cups to underprivileged girls at schools in Limpopo and Gauteng.

Mudau says most girls living in rural parts of the Vhembe District, make use of newspapers, socks and toilet papers which poses a risk to their health.

She believes that if the recommended VAT-free suggestion is adopted, it would reduce chances of underprivileged girls missing school due to lack of sanitary towels.